As it is with many of my associates, travel is my second career. To be honest, there’s not much adventure in the banking industry, not much mystery, not much… joy. So in 1996 I left the banking business and took a course in travel at the local university. I didn’t have much of an idea how it all might turn out, I just knew I wanted to chart a new course for my life. When I naively asked my professor, “But how do I get a job?”… he referred me to a Virtuoso agency. What a change it has made in my life!

I’ve always loved seeing and studying the ancient, the unusual, relics from Greek ruins or the Four Corners in America’s southwest. But I never knew I could make a career of sharing that love, that fascination with others. And the people! Once in Athens, during a taxi strike, our hotelier put us in his own car and drove us to the airport. We were given a send-off by local youths singing “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain” – in Greek! (There’s a bit of intrigue to that story as well. Ask me when we meet – it’s a story I love to tell!)

But the most important people I’ve met in my second career are my clients. They are not a “sale” to me. My clients become my friends. Whether I’m arranging for a Catholic church group visit to Oberammergau for the passion play, or customizing the details for an amateur archaeologist visiting Sicily… This is not just a job. I listen to what my clients say, and I care about what they do and how they do. My clients and I have more than a business relationship, we have a personal relationship. A relationship built on trust.

This cruise started in Istanbul and ended in Athens, and my husband and I were Virtuoso Voyages hosts. We added both pre cruise days in Istanbul, and post cruise days in Athens. We arranged private tours in both cities to get the most out of our time. So much to see! the Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, the Acropolis, and even a riot in Athens!

Panama Canal Cruise with Seabourn Cruises

This cruise started in Fort Lauderdale and ended in Los Angeles, 18 days long. My husband and I were Virtuoso Voyages hosts. The Panama Canal was on our bucket list and we jumped at this opportunity to travel through the canal. The Odyssey holds only 400 passengers, so we were a very small ship in Gatun Lake. This was the first trip for this ship through the canal, so many of the locals took pictures of our arrival.

Driving through Europe for 2 weeks

This trip was so much fun! My husband and I and 2 friends rented a 'mini bus' and drove through Europe for 2 weeks. We started in Germany, went on to Prague and spent 5 days there, then to Salzburg and Innsbruck in Austria, Milan in Italy, Switzerland...we only had hotel reservations for the first night and the last night, so we traveled were we wanted and stayed where we could. Such an adventure, and what memories!

Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Cruise Line

Although I have taken more Caribbean cruises than I can count, this was my favorite. 10 days roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on the Constellation. We enjoyed 2 days at sea each way, and that really made the trip relaxing. We did most of our Christmas shopping in the islands. On board the ship we frequented Michael's Lounge, and became fans of Perry Grant. The Concierge Class on the ship spoiled us!

Oberammergau 2010

My husband and I took a group of 40 to Germany in 2010 for the Passion Play at Oberammergau. We stayed a total of 8 days, making Munich our "home" during much of that time and taking day tours throughout the country. We saw so many beautiful churches, and Mass was celebrated daily for our Catholic church group. "The Roaming Catholics" sang along to "The Sound of Music" as we motored back from Austria. The hills were alive!!